Saturday, February 27, 2016

Hello Kittens!

Last weekend was the annual Chinese New Years Parade in San Francisco. Tim and I toyed with the idea of going, tentatively making plans that we might do so, but as the day arrived we just couldn't muster up the energy to head out all the way into the city to stand in the cold. Don't get me wrong, it's a great parade, but it is a lot of standing, and a lot of cold. So instead we decided to go to the movies and see Deadpool instead. And just because we weren't going to the Chinese New Years parade doesn't mean I couldn't wear the dress I was planning on wearing that day!

Outfit of the Day:
I had in my mind to wear this gorgeous and fun Trashy Diva Lilian Dragon dress to the Chinese New Year parade. So why not wear it not going to the parade? It was Deadpool colors anyway, right? I paired this with a black cardigan from the Gap I got several years ago, brown sweater tights I got from Target earlier this winter, and red Ecco flats I found on ebay a couple months ago. For a finishing touch I paired this with red floral stud earrings.

And so we've come to the last post of Vacation Slideshow: Island in the Sun, Maui

Day 5 was an amazing day for us. We started out the morning surfing around the same group of beaches we surfed at on day 3 of our trip near Kamala beach.We were a little farther south along this stretch of beaches and the bottom was a lot more sandy. A fun surprise this day was that there were a ton of giant turtles out! We mostly kept our distance from them letting them have their peace but it was fun to be out there with them!

Kalama Beach, Kihei, HI

Surfing at Kalama Beach, Kihei, HI

Sea turtle popping up to say hi, Kalama Beach, Kihei, HI

Sea turtle swimming along

After getting our surf fill for the day we went back to our home base, got cleaned up, and headed to the Maui Tropical Plantation. Despite its name I'm not sure if there is anything actually historical about this place but it was fun taking their little tram and getting a tour of their farm. The food they grow there is sold in the fruit market on the grounds and also is used in their restaurant also on the grounds. One of my favorite parts of the tour was seeing a demonstration of a coconut being husked and learning about the life cycle of a pineapple plant. Did you know that for each pineapple plant, only three pineapples are grown for it's entire life cycle? Also it could take years for the first pineapple to fruit. After that you have to wait a long while again for the next pineapple and a while again for the next pineapple after that. At least that's what I remember them telling us during the tour.

Tram in the distance at Maui Tropical Plantation, Wailuku, HI

Two un-husked coconuts with one husked coconuts

Pineapple plant

After our tour we stopped by their ice cream stand to get complimentary cups of pineapple for taking the tour and also to have ice cream! Tim and I shared of scoop of a flavor they called Pa'uwela (named after a place in Maui). It tasted a little like orange creamsical. We also tried their Haupia flavored ice cream which was also very tasty!

Ice cream stand at Maui Tropical Plantation, Wailuku, HI

Before leaving we stopped by their fruit shop and picked up a fresh pineapple and papaya for later.

The fruit shop at Maui Tropical Plantation, Wailuku, HI

We had just enough time after the Plantation to cross another item off my list, a stop at McDonalds to see if they have any haupia pie! Haupia is a coconut custard. Last time we were in Hawaii we there just in time for this seasonal treat at McDonalds. Unfortunately, this time they didn't have any. But they did have taro pie. It wasn't as delicious as their haupia pies but it was pretty good.

After that we went back to our home base again to change for dinner. I usually don't change so much in a day but on this night we were going out to a luau and I brought along a very special dress for the occasion-- my Trashy Diva Lena Sarong in Blue Hawaii.

At the Feast at Lele, Lahaina, HI

The luau was gorgeous, right on the beach, and the food, service, drinks, and entertainment were all excellent! If you ever find yourself in Hawaii, a luau is a must!

Banana and sweet potato chips served with a tropical salsa with ogo seaweed

For going out to the luau I wore my Trashy Diva Lena Sarong in Blue Hawaii.

Trashy Diva Lena sarong in Blue Hawaii, pictured on the beach at the Feast at Lele, Lahaina, HI

Day 6:

Day 6 was our last full day in Hawaii. We started the morning to a breakfast of fresh fruits we bought at the Maui Tropical Plantation. We then headed out down south past Makena beach (big beach) for a morning snorkel. I believe the area we were snorkeling at is known as La Perouse Bay. It was a great spot for snorkeling. Lots of fish were out and the water was pretty calm.

We then headed to Makena beach (big beach) for boogie boarding. It was my first time trying it!

After boogie boarding we went grabbed some fish and shrimp tacos at Maui Tacos and then headed back to home base to clean up to get ready for a sunset dinner cruise with the family. Though we didn't get any good pics of it, we did get to see some whales! It was a great day.

At the sunset dinner cruise, Maalaea Bay, HI

Outfit of the Day (day 6):

While most of the day was spend in a bathing suit, after we cleaned up to get ready for the dinner cruise I decided to wear my Tatyana Micky dress. This is one of my favorites for a comfortable nautical theme.

Tatyana Micky dress pictured at the boat docks, Maalaea, HI

Day 7:

Day 7 was the day we flew back home.

We loaded up the rental car with our suitcases and headed out for breakfast. For breakfast that morning we decided to treat ourselves to some macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup one last time before leaving. This time they were banana macadamia nut pancakes. :D

We were planning on a having a little more time to make one or two more stops before heading to the airport but unbeknownst to us it was World Whale Day and Kihei was celebrating with gusto. They closed down the one and only street leading out of the town for their parade and so we were held hostage in town with no way out. Believe me, we looked! We tried every neighborhood street where we were only to find each and every one led to a dead end. It might have been interesting to see the parade if we weren't so on edge about being trapped in the town. Luckily we had left early enough that we didn't miss our plane but because of the parade we didn't get to see some of the last stops Tim wanted to see.You can never be in rush or on a schedule while on the island.

And so, here we are at the conclusion of Vacation Slideshow: Island in the Sun, Maui. I hope you enjoyed the pics. :)

Monday, February 22, 2016

...Continuing on with Vacation Slideshow: Island in the Sun!

If you missed the beginning, you can see the start of Vacation Slideshow: Island in the Sun here. :)

Day 3:

Since Tim was a trooper and went along with everything I wanted to do the first two days of our trip I told him the third day was going to be all him-- anything he wanted to do.

I was not surprised and was quite anticipating that his first choice was going to be surfing!

On the third day of the trip, after waking to a hearty breakfast of oatmeal and bananas we walked down to nearby Kalama beach in the town of Kihei. The stretch of beaches in Kihei were our favorite for surfing the first time around and were just as nice this second time around.The water was warmish and the waves small. After working up an appetite in the surf we stopped at a food truck across the street for a fish wrap lunch which we brought back to the beach to eat there.

Kamala Beach, Kihei, HI

Oh Yeah! Surfing at Kamala Beach, Kihei, HI

After Kamala beach we headed back to our home base for a dip in the pool and then were off again this time to Makena beach also known as big beach. If you go to the end of big beach and climb the rocks there you can get to little beach. We almost didn't do it after seeing how high up the rocks went but knowing how much I hate regretting the things I didn't do while on vacation I mustered up the courage for the climb and we went. The climb itself wasn't nearly as bad as it looked from ground level and the path to little beach once you get on top is smooth and sandy. Now I heard little beach was a nude beach but I wasn't expecting what we found on the other side! It was so crowded. Lots of people were working hard to get there tanline-less suntans at little beach that day! If you keep walking along little beach after you reach the end there are tide pools too. We had fun playing on the rocks looking at the sea urchins there.

Makena Beach (Big Beach) Makena, HI

View of Makena Beach from the top of the cliff, Makena, HI

Path to Little Beach from the top of the cliff

After climbing back over to big beach we tried playing the surf but the undertow was really strong and pretty scary so didn't stay in the water too long.

Playing at Makena Beach (Big Beach)

Before driving back to our home base we decided to keep driving south to where the road ends to see what was there. Along the road we drove past La Perouse bay and lava fields in the Ahihi-Kina'u nature reserve (most of which are closed to public access other than driving through on the road or a few hiking trails.

Lava fields, Ahihi-Kina'u Nature Reserve, Makena, HI

Baby goat crossing the road, Ahihi-Kina'u Nature Reserve, Makena, HI

After coming back for the night we didn't know what we were going to do for dinner so it was a really nice coincidence that the timeshare complex we were staying at was having a bbq in the pool area! We got to relax and eat cheeseburgers and chips poolside. Not a bad way to end the day.

Outfit of the Day (Day 3):

Since most of this day was spend in bathing suits I threw on a blue jersey knit dress which I got from Nordstrom Rack several years ago. This is one of my favorite dresses to use as a beach cover up. It's a dress but since there's no zippers or buttons it's perfect as a cover up.

Blue Jersey Knit dress as beach cover up photographed with a wooden mermaid sculptured in progress on the beach

Day 4:

On day four, after eating our oatmeal and bananas for breakfast, we headed down south to Polo Beach to do some snorkeling. We forgot the camera that morning so sadly did not get any pictures. After our morning snorkel we jumped in the pool for a little bit then cleaned up for lunch. Mama's Fish House in the north shore town of Paia was the big destination for the day! The location, setting, food, and service were all amazing but I will let the photos do most of the talking. I just have to add that Mama's Fish House was probably my favorite part of our whole trip. If you ever find yourself in Maui, do not hesitate to go!

Mama's Fish House, Paia, HI

Our table at Mama's Fish House, Paia, HI

The view from our table at Mama's Fish House

Guava Colada at Mama's Fish House

Hood Canel clams simmered in garlic brooth with edamame noodles

Fresh caught Ahi grilled in a ti leaf with papaya and coconut rice

Polynesian black pearl: Liliko'i chocolate mousse in a pastry shell

In front of Mama's Fish House, Paia, HI

After lunch we decided to head back to our home base in Kihei by
taking a scenic route via highway 340 along the northwest coast. The
last time we were in Maui eight years ago this road was closed and we
didn't realize there was supposed to be a road up there. This trip, we
heard stories about this road... mostly that the road gets narrow and
there's "nothing's up there". Compared to these comments we were not
expecting at all what we found! To say the road narrows is an understatement. It goes so narrow that it's narrower than a single lane road. This happens amidst blind hairpin turns butted up against sheer cliffs going straight down. My heart was racing the whole time. I was happy when we got out of it alive and without a scratch on us. While I don't know if I'd be able to recommend this drive to anyone going to Maui, it was an adventure to have! And the people that said "nothing's up there" got that part wrong too. It was wonderfully scenic up there (once you got past the fear that it was possible to die at any moment) and we got to this great part in the road (before it turned too harry) where there was a gang of wild chickens and kitties on the street.

Wild chickens and cats along the north west highway 340

Gorgeous view along the north west highway 340

Coming out of the worst of the one lane road where the road opens up again to a proper two lane highway we came across this blowhole we weren't expecting.

Nakalele Blowhole, Pohelua Bay, HI

And then later saw this wild looking beach full of surfers trying to catch some big waves (you have to look very closely for the surfers as they are way out there)

Before heading home we stopped in the town of Kapalua for some snacks which got me craving some Lappert's ice cream! A quick look up on our navigator told us the nearest Lappert's Ice cream place was in Wailea which was past home base but we decided to go anyway. It turns out there is only one Lappert's ice cream on the whole island of Maui. I'm glad we found it. I love Lappert's ice cream so much! I got a scoop of caramel coconut macadamia nut ice cream.

Continuing our drive back to our home base we stopped by Foodland, the local grocery store, for some spam and fried chicken masubis. Seeing these delicious rice rolls readily available at the grocery store was one of the must dos on my list for this trip! They are so good plus I like the novelty of being able to pick them up at the grocery store! We had to get some. Though what we didn't know was that when we got back to our home base the family would be there making dinner! We decided to save our masubis for breakfast and joined the family in a much enjoyed family meal.

Outfit of the Day (Day 4):

For this day's activities I decided to wear my Trashy Diva Trixie dress in their Deep Sea Coral print. I figured the sea theme of the dress would be perfect for a fancy lunch at Mama's Fish House. I paired this with a peachy pink cardigan I got from Target several years ago and wore my comfy black Sketcher Go Walks with it.